A Christmas Waltz (2020) -
Although Will Kemp as Roman was very British for a Russian, he was actually quite lovely and charming. Sometimes a Brit in films like these can really stand out as awkward, but he worked nicely, without laying on a cockney or royal accent too thickly.
I also really liked the connection that he made with Lacey Chabert as Avery, although the upsets and walking away all the time got to be a tad boring. But, at least the falling out that always happens was more genuine this time. It was a believable scenario and not just a misheard conversation or a sudden lack of trust. To be fair, she obviously didn't love her fiancé David either.
I honestly wasn't expecting to like this one because the dance ones are usually terrible, but this wasn't at all.
I also liked that the two leads were both capable dancers and it wasn't just bodged and blagged. I've seen so many of these films where "Amazing" and "Professional" dancers perform to save the town, Etc and they look like an old, paraplegic, football player on week one of 'Strictly Come Dancing' (2004-) / 'Dancing With The Stars' (2005-), so it was nice to see that the final result was a show that I would actually be happy to pay to see.
Even the kids were good dancers, I could have easily believed that the stage show element was real footage from an actual paid for performance and the audience was real.
I will definitely watch this one again and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did this time.
7/10.
Although Will Kemp as Roman was very British for a Russian, he was actually quite lovely and charming. Sometimes a Brit in films like these can really stand out as awkward, but he worked nicely, without laying on a cockney or royal accent too thickly.
I also really liked the connection that he made with Lacey Chabert as Avery, although the upsets and walking away all the time got to be a tad boring. But, at least the falling out that always happens was more genuine this time. It was a believable scenario and not just a misheard conversation or a sudden lack of trust. To be fair, she obviously didn't love her fiancé David either.
I honestly wasn't expecting to like this one because the dance ones are usually terrible, but this wasn't at all.
I also liked that the two leads were both capable dancers and it wasn't just bodged and blagged. I've seen so many of these films where "Amazing" and "Professional" dancers perform to save the town, Etc and they look like an old, paraplegic, football player on week one of 'Strictly Come Dancing' (2004-) / 'Dancing With The Stars' (2005-), so it was nice to see that the final result was a show that I would actually be happy to pay to see.
Even the kids were good dancers, I could have easily believed that the stage show element was real footage from an actual paid for performance and the audience was real.
I will definitely watch this one again and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did this time.
7/10.